Shining up Central Avenue this holiday season with help from our star students

Blessed Sacrament School students hard at work decorating stars for Central
Avenue Business Improvement District. 

At Christmas, Santa has deliveries to make, and so do we. Every year, the Central Avenue Business Improvement District delivers paper mache stars to local schools so that students can decorate them. Then, we use the stars to decorate Central Avenue's Shopping District for the holidays.

Busy Central BID elves hang the stars from garland that loops over fences in front of the district's major shopping plazas.

This year, with help from Blessed Sacrament School, Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls, and Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys, the Montessori Magnet School, Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy, West Hill Middle School, and Lisha Kill Middle School, we will hang 750 hand-decorated stars in the district.

Students from Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls
paint and bedazzle their stars. 

"We are always looking for ways to engage youth and tap their talents. This program, which connects business owners with local residents, meets all these goals beautifully, and the results speak for themselves. Our district looks beautiful every year," says Molly Belmont, Marketing and Communications Director for the Central Avenue Business Improvement District.

The program has been going since 2014, and each year, more schools participate. Educators say the program is popular with students and parents alike.

"The students loved this project, and almost every class was able to participate," says Debbie Cronin, Art Specialist at West Hill Middle School. "Thanks to Central Avenue Business Improvement District for providing the 3-D stars. The students loved painting and decorating them." 

"We have been enjoying working on our stars at the Montessori Magnet School," says Molly Suwara, Art Specialist at Montessori Magnet School. "Some of the students were excited to do the project for a second year in a row and shared stories about seeing them and even finding their star last year. The students truly enjoy the creative process of decorating the stars. I especially like to participate in this project because it helps the students develop a deeper understanding of the work it takes to create a festive atmosphere in an urban shopping area.  I thing the children & families take pride in knowing that their work is being displayed in a public place." 


"We had students asking about the stars at the very beginning of the year," says Jada Schmidt, Visual Arts Educator at Brighter Choice Charter Schools. "They look forward to it all year." 

Jada Schmidt stands with students from Brighter Choice Charter
School for Boys--all hold completed stars for the district. Great
job! 

Each year, the Central Avenue BID seeks sponsorships from local businesses to help offset the cost of supplies. Our goal is to raise $1,200, and any funds raised beyond this amount will be donated to the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany to benefit their youth programs for blind and visually impaired children and teens.

"NABA is very appreciative of the support we receive through the star program," says Christopher Burke, Executive Director/CEO for Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany. "As we work to create opportunities for blind children and youth, an inclusive program like this helps us raise awareness and sends a positive message to our kinds and their families. We have contributed in the past and have seen the impact of this program. We are honored to be this years recipient of the program's support."

This year's stars were sponsored by ShopRite, American Glass Company, Hudson Valley Community College, ATAX, Honest Weight Food Co-op, TD Bank, and Darcy Knapp Consulting. Many thanks to them for the continued support for this program.  

The stars students made will be on display from December 4-January 4 at ShopRite Plaza, Westgate Plaza, and Hannaford Plaza. To learn more about how you can sponsor the Star Student Holiday Program, please visit our website. Donations start as low as $25. You can make a contribution online or download a sign-up form and mail in your sponsorship contribution. Please help us spread the joy of the season today!